helter
join:2007-09-11
Silverdale, WA | reply to Rob
Re: Comcast BASIC Cable (no digital box) and Upcoming Digital TV said by Rob:You are correct, the digital converter boxes that you can purchase in retail stores that you're hearing about on TV will not work with Comcast. A TV that is cable ready might have a digital tuner - you'd have to refer to the user guide to find out if it does. Channels above local carriers are encrypted so qam/digital tuner will not matter unless policy changes on the DTA last we heard. Dumb idea? Yes, but that's corporate for you.. |
|
 RobIn Deo speramus, God Bless the USAPremium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
kudos:2 | said by helter:said by Rob:You are correct, the digital converter boxes that you can purchase in retail stores that you're hearing about on TV will not work with Comcast. A TV that is cable ready might have a digital tuner - you'd have to refer to the user guide to find out if it does. Channels above local carriers are encrypted so qam/digital tuner will not matter unless policy changes on the DTA last we heard. Dumb idea? Yes, but that's corporate for you.. Comcast's plan is to leave the channels from 25-100 (those that will go all digital) in clear qam so customer's won't need a box immediately.
But that's not for all markets. In some markets, DTA will be required. |
|
| said by Rob:Comcast's plan is to leave the channels from 25-100 (those that will go all digital) in clear qam so customer's won't need a box immediately... So, are you saying that all the Clear QAM Sub-Channels that I lost a few days ago 'may' return one day? 
Reference: Plainfields-QAM: *ALL* of my Sub-Channels Are Gone!?!
said by Rob:...But that's not for all markets. In some markets, DTA will be required. Or, am I in the 'wrong' market? 
--
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. --George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950) LM |
|
| reply to Rob
OK, I replaced my analog set with a new digital TV that tunes clear QAM. My current service with Comcast is extended basic service that I had set up with the old set. My new set tunes all those channels (the ones in the -0 subchannel area) and several QAM channels in various subchannels, including local digital and HD content.
What happens to the extended basic service? Does it remain with digital content downgraded to the current service? Will the service be dropped and I will be required to lease a STB? Will the current extended channels I receive be sent as unencrypted QAM? And how will I ever figure out the channel schedule without a cross-reference between Comcast's digital channel mapping and the QAM channels? |
|
bicker
join:2007-05-10
Burlington, MA | In many areas, like mine, expanded basic channels are encrypted when broadcast as digital QAM. You need either a cable box or a CableCARD-equipped device to tune them in. Different areas handle this differently, but eventually you can expect all will operate the way my area operates. |
|
|
|
